Mr Dahal, a close aide of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was campaigning in the district when Maoist activists pelted stones and even fired at NC activists including Mr Dahal while they were returning after addressing a party campaign for the upcoming Constituent polls in the remote part of the district, the Kantipur quoted Nepali Congress as saying.

In a press release, NC central committee chief secretary Shavakar Parajuli said the Maoist assault was an attempt to murder Mr Dahal.

The former rebels fled from the site after security forces mobilised and blank fired half a dozen rounds of bullets for protecting the NC candidate.

NC activist Lila Dahal was critically injured in the attack.

NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC said the Maoists have created an environment for confrontational politics by physically attacking the activists and candidates of opposition parties.

The NC will be forced to retaliate across the country if they don't stop these activities, he added.

Maoists had attacked an UML candidate in Ramechhap district and stopped former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa to campaign in Dhankuta recently.